Members of the school community, including a number of students and parents, had asked Pope to consider not attending the ceremony as they felt he would present a distraction.

Pope acquiesced to those requests and released this statement earlier today:

I's like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our 2012 Marlborough High School graduates and their families. High school graduation is a milestone full of pride and accomplishment, and I salute all of our students, staff and families for their hard work and dedication to reach this day.

To avoid having the distractions of the past few months overshadow the accomplishment of these young men and women, I will not attend the ceremony. But I will be there in spirit, wishing them good luck in all of their future endeavors.